Hi David D. Thanks for posting your search results which are very interesting, even though James wasn't mentioned.

I don't think those abbreviations are meant to be pronounced as written, like "Mr" becomes Mister in speech. The only Chas I have ever heard pronounced as Chas is that comedian from 'The Chaser'.

My gt grandfather, also from Scotland, was often referred to in documents as the abbreviated Chas, as was his brother Jas, but never called anything other than Charlie and Jamie by the family, and Charles and James by everyone else. Other common abbreviations were of course Wm, Margt, Jno, Jos., Elizth (etc.), but I very much doubt that anyone actually called them that in speech!

It always sounds very odd to me hearing Chas Licciardello referred to as Chas.

Sue